1. It isn't clear whether it actually exists in both versions, i.e. "standard" and "plus"

2. Why when I go to the online shop the label on its top changes fro Be-on-bike" to "NC-17 ?

3. I'm not personally interested in its Bluetooth App, the question is: has anybody a direct experience with it ? is it really so good compared to alternative more traditional dynamo ac/dc converters ?

1. It isn't clear whether it actually exists in both versions, i.e. "standard" and "plus"

The original version had a lower performance. At some point they switched to the "plus" version with better performance (2x if you believe them). You can still send in the original version and get an upgrade to the plus edition for a small fee.

I think they stop selling the original version, but i never checked if that is true for all distributer channels... get "plus" if you can.

Originally Posted By: ConRAD

... is it really so good compared to alternative more traditional dynamo ac/dc converters ?

JensD (Forumslader) measured the original version, it did not perform so well (No numbers published, i guess more or less in line with the other commercial ones).

The one crucial detail is bike light: if your frontlight is on, the harvester more or less stops working. I have a forumslader and while the light does reduce performance, the drop is much less noticeable.

In my opinion a relevant problem is also that the trademark BE-ON-BIKE seems not to exist anymore and appears to have been replaced by NC-17.Going to the online shop of NC-17 there is no access to any performances chart/efficiency except for a very general statement where they say “output 5V-1A”. No mention to "standard" or whatsoever "PLUS" version !!The online page of the web site of BE-ON-BIKE seems not to be updated any more, last update is indeed June 2016. This might be due to the fact that BE-ON-BIKE at the origin was a start-up and now is something different.

In my opinion a relevant problem is also that the trademark BE-ON-BIKE seems not to exist anymore and appears to have been replaced by NC-17.

NC-17 alright bought the business. At least that seems to be the meaning of the very last post on the old be-on-bike website (German version). The NC-17 website does not mention the old developer (Thomas Treyer), i don't think he personally joined NC-17.

Documentation for such products is always a problem. I hope the old plus version is the new standard version.

I totally disagree with this, new style, “mis-marketing” approach !This device has been advertised with some features that now, under the new name, seem to have totally disappeared.I’m personally starting to be quite unconfident towards certain start-ups that suddenly disappear ... for coming back a few months later under a new name, with no relevant references at all, no data sheets … nothing absolutely nothing.It reminds me a recent “case-study”, already widely discussed within this forum, where a guy was trying to demonstrate the high performances of a similar device having tested it using “a signal generator with an amplifier” instead of using a real dynamo" !

I’m personally starting to be quite unconfident towards certain start-ups that suddenly disappear ... for coming back a few months later under a new name, with no relevant references at all, no data sheets … nothing absolutely nothing.

"Under new management" explains a lot. They probably don't know the product they bought and just try to ride on the hype the previous owner created.

I still think it is a viable product, maybe not a viable distributor... Converting the normal version to plus version at home is definitely easy for you.

Originally Posted By: ConRAD

It reminds me a recent “case-study”, already widely discussed within this forum, where a guy was trying to demonstrate the high performances of a similar device having tested it using “a signal generator with an amplifier” instead of using a real dynamo" !

That guy removed links to both distribution channels from the website and now sells it directly via his own website. Facebook link is dead, Amazon dropped the product, the UK retailer sells it cheaper then the manufacturer (clearing stock?). He also dropped the lifetime warranty (surprise!) and the most-efficient-ever claim and still does not acknowledge EU-law. I think the price went up, but that might be due to conversion and a weak british pound.

... converting the normal version to plus version at home is definitely easy...

Maybe you're right but ... but I think that to advertise the product with a name and sell it with a different name it sounds to me pretty unfair!! And what about its claimed performances, what about possible return and repairing, what about warranty.Just a couple of days ago I had some problems with my Zzing so I e-mailed the producer/distributor asking him what to do and then being advised about a simple operation I've quikly fixed it and now it's working back very well again !!!

That guy removed links to both distribution channels from the website and now sells it directly via his own website. Facebook link is dead, Amazon dropped the product, the UK retailer sells it cheaper then the manufacturer (clearing stock?). He also dropped the lifetime warranty (surprise!) and the most-efficient-ever claim and still does not acknowledge EU-law. I think the price went up, but that might be due to conversion and a weak british pound.

Welcome to the real world and brexit.

Facebook page is in the same place, we never sold through Amazon. The distributor list is still on the website. The warranty was reduced to 5yr to satisfy retailer liability but in reality it's still lifetime (and our customer base will confirm our warranty service is exceptional).